Stepanek advances; Chardy falls at Sydney

Sydney, Australia (Sports Network) - Radek Stepanek was an easy first-round
winner, while Jeremy Chardy was an early upset Tuesday at the Sydney
International tennis event, a final Australian Open tune-up.

The sixth-seeded Czech Stepanek overcame three double faults by converting on all four of his break chances against Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez to earn a 6-2, 6-3 decision at Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre.

Feliciano Lopez of Spain, meanwhile, hammered 22 aces against France's Chardy,
the tournament's seventh seed, during a marathon 6-7 (2-7), 7-5, 6-3 victory
in just over two hours.

South Africa's Kevin Anderson also advanced to the second round by outlasting
Aljaz Bedene of Slovakia 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 after American Ryan Harrison moved on
when Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut retired in the first set while trailing 2-1
with lower abdominal pain.